Watersiders To Do Work At Portland?

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1948, Page 3

Watersiders To Do Work At Portland?

A SIGNIFICANT telegram I rei Waterside Workers’ Union ; mission’s findings on the Portlai Signed by the watersiders’ n and national secretary (Mr T. H given. Advise Portland manage! doing work. —Barnes and Hill.”

The commission with Mr Justice Dalgleish as chairman, re-considered the various aspects of the dispute just before Christmas. It heard the watersiders’ claims for the right to handle coal and gypsum rock shipments to Portland and it also considered claims, advanced by Mr Barnes, for the watersiders to load cement. In both cases, decision was reserved. NO OFFICIAL ADVICE

The telegram received yesterday afternoon by the secretary of the local watersiders’ union (Mr J. A. Andrews) gave no indication as to whether the watersiders would be handling all three types of cargoes. Confirmation is expected.

No official advice of the commission’s decision has yet been received by the management of Wilson’s (N.Z.) Portland Cement Co., Ltd., or by the Portland Cement Workers’ Union which has been handling shipments of coal, gypsum and cement for the past 30 years.

The works manager (Mr E. Leese) this morning said he was unable to comment on the situation as he had no Information about the Commission’s decision.

The president of the Cement Workers’ Union (Mr J. O'Connor) and the secretary (Mr H. H. Boreham) both stated they had not yet received advice on the subject. When information was received, it would be a matter for the union to decide.

When the union held its genera] meeting on January 20, the subject would probably be discussed. CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT Until advice was received from the commission or the Federation of Labour, the union would carry out the federation’s most recent instruction to maintain the status quo Inquiries made this morning revealed that the watersiders have claimed for payment for all the work done on the seven coal and gypsum ships which have been worked by Portland labour since the acting-Waterfront Commissioner (Mr A. E Bockett) gave his decision in favour of the Portland workers during September. ■The Whangarei watersiders disputed his ruling and when the question was referred to the Federation of Labour, the federation decided in favour of the watersiders. A conference of the commission and the Waterfront Employers’ Association, with representatives of shipping interests and the cement company, then followed, and instructions were given that .in the meantime Portland worker’s should continue handling cargoes.

The commission, with Mr Justice Dalgleish as chairman, sat before Christmas and reserved its decision. COMPLICATIONS POSSIBLE Even when the commission’s findings are promulgated, complications can still arise. This is likely if the ruling covers the handling of cement, for which the company was granted an exemption from the commission’s order regarding waterfront work.

The cement workers have not yet had an opportunity of stating their case in respect of cement loading, and if the commission rules on this point, there may be developments. It is understood that the main point of the watersiders’ claims is that no exemption had been granted to the company from the order in respect of coal and gypsum shipments, although cement workers carried out this work for many years. It has also bee n stated that threats .were made to the effect that if the watersiders did not get the Portland work, cement shipments from Portland would not be unloaded at New Zealand ports. The position of the Portland workers employed on wharf work, is .yet obscure. OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN? They may be given an opportunity of joining the watersiders’ union, which will have to be increased substantially in numbers if both Portland and Whangarei shipping, is to be handled by the union.

When the watersiders called for applications for membership of their union a fortnight ago, one application of the 18 received came from a Portland worker.

However, this call for applications was for the purpose of bringing the union strength up to 23 required under the guaranteed wage agreement. If Portland work is to be undertaken by watersiders, it will be necessary to double the union’s strength.

tas been received by the Whangaregarding the Waterfront Coinid dispute.

national president (Mr H. Barnes) ill), it reads: “Decision has been ment watersiders’ union will be